![Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award Guide [MA000118]](https://www.workstem.com/au/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/02/Untitled-design-min.png)
Table of content
- What is the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award ?
- Who is covered by the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award ?
- How are the hours of work arranged in the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award ?
- How are wages and allowances calculated in the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award ?
- How is the leave managed in the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award ?
- How can Workstem assist you?
This article provides guidelines on the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award package. For more information on this award, please refer to the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award .
What is the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award ?
The Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award is an honour given to individuals, organisations, or establishments that have shown exceptional dedication and contributions in the field of animal care and veterinary services.
It recognizes their efforts in promoting animal health and welfare through advancements in veterinary medicine, innovative treatment methods, successful animal welfare programs, or outstanding care and support to animals in need. The award aims to celebrate their achievements and inspire others to make a positive impact on animal lives.
Who is covered by the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award ?
Coverage
The Animal and Veterinary Services Award recognizes employers and employees in the veterinary surgery and animal care industry. This includes private veterinary surgery practices and community-based charity organisations, such as the RSPCA, working to prevent animal cruelty.
Examples of employees covered by the Animal and Veterinary Services Award include:
- veterinary surgeons
- veterinary nurses
- animal attendants and assistants
- receptionists
- practice managers
- animal care industry inspectors.
The Animal and Veterinary Services Award extends to labour hire businesses and their employees who are placed within organisations in the veterinary surgery and animal care industry.
The following employers and employees are not covered by the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award :
- private boarding kennels
- dog grooming businesses
- dog walkers
- wildlife educator
- animal transport
- animal technician
- research Veterinary technician.
The Animal and Veterinary Services Award excludes employers and employees who are covered by the Amusement Award, Food and Beverage Manufacturing Award, Horse and Greyhound Award, or Pastoral Award.
Source: Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award [MA000118] clauses 2, 4 and schedule A
How are the hours of work arranged in the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award ?
Hours of work
- Ordinary hours of work: The average is 38 hours per week, not exceeding 152 hours in a 28-day period or an average of 38 hours over an agreed roster cycle.
- Maximum shift length: The ordinary hours for any single shift should not exceed 10 hours, excluding meal breaks.
- Span of hours for day work: The ordinary hours of work are scheduled between 6:00 am and 9:00 pm from Monday to Sunday.
- Continuity of work: The ordinary hours of work are to be worked continuously, with the exception of meal breaks, at the discretion of the employer.
- Flexibility in span of hours: The employer and an individual employee may agree to alter the span of hours.
- Provisions for veterinary surgeons: Travel time required for work and daily work rosters are included. Associates (excluding casuals) should receive a minimum of 3 full days off per fortnight, with accumulated days off and time off paid out if not utilised within 6 weeks.
- Make-up time: Employees can elect to work make-up time with employer consent, where they take time off during ordinary hours and work those hours later within the specified spread of ordinary hours.
Breaks
|
Unpaid Meal Break |
|
|
Paid Rest Break |
|
How are wages and allowances calculated in the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award ?
Minimum rates
- Animal care industry inspectors
|
Classification |
Minimum annual salary | Minimum hourly rate |
|
Inspector Level 1 |
60,082 $ |
30.41 $ |
| Inspector Level 2 | 63,388 $ |
32.08 $ |
| Senior Inspector Level 3 | 68,484 $ |
34.66 $ |
- Practice managers, Veterinary nurses, Receptionists, Animal attendants and Assistants
|
Classification |
Minimum weekly rate
(full-time employee) |
Minimum hourly rate |
| Introductory level | 859.30 $ |
22.61 $ |
| Level 1 | 882.80 $ | 23.23 $ |
|
Level 2 |
954.00 $ | 25.11 $ |
| Level 3 | 995.00 $ |
26.18 $ |
|
Level 4 |
1085.60 $ | 28.57 $ |
| Level 5—Practice manager | 1140.70 $ |
30.02 $ |
- Veterinary surgeons
|
Classification |
Minimum annual salary |
Minimum hourly rate |
|
Level 1A |
60,082 $ |
30.41 $ |
| Level 1B | 63,388 $ |
32.08 $ |
|
Level 2 |
68,484 $ |
34.66 $ |
|
Level 3 |
75,237 $ |
38.08 $ |
| Level 4 | 84,985 $ |
43.01 $ |
- Junior rates
|
Age |
% |
|
Under 17 years of age |
50% |
|
17 years of age |
60% |
| 18 years of age |
70% |
| 19 years of age |
80% |
|
20 years of age |
90% |
Note: To calculate hourly rates for veterinary surgeons, the annual rates are divided by 52, rounded to the nearest $0.10, and then divided by 38.
*For more information about minimum rates, please refer to the complete version of Fair Work.
Overtime and Penalty Rates
- Weekend rates and public holiday penalties—other than shiftwork
|
|
Full time and part-time employees | Casual employees | |
|
% of minimum hourly rate |
|||
|
Saturday |
First 3 hours (after 1 pm) | 150% | 175% |
|
After 3 hours |
200% |
225% | |
|
Sunday |
200% |
225% |
|
|
Public holiday |
250% |
275% |
|
- Shiftwork penalty rates
|
a) 115% of the minimum hourly rate for a shift finishing after 8:00 pm. |
|
b) 130% of the minimum hourly rate for a shift where the majority of hours on the shift occur between midnight and 8:00 am. |
|
c) 115% of the minimum hourly rate for a shift commencing at or before 6:30 am. |
- Weekend and public holiday rates—shiftwork
|
a) 150% of the minimum hourly rate for ordinary hours on a Saturday shift. |
|
b) 200% of the minimum hourly rate for ordinary hours on a Sunday shift. |
|
c) 250% of the minimum hourly rate for ordinary hours on a public holiday shift. |
Allowance
|
Allowances |
Rate |
|
Wage-related allowances – other than veterinary surgeons |
|
|
Broken shift allowance |
$15.92 per shift (once per 24 hours) |
|
First aid |
$19.50 per week |
|
On-call |
|
|
Wage-related allowances – veterinary surgeons |
|
|
On-call duty |
|
|
Expense-related allowances – all employees |
|
|
Clothing and laundry allowance |
|
|
Expense-related allowances – other than veterinary surgeons |
|
|
Meal allowance |
|
|
Expense-related allowances – veterinary surgeons |
|
|
Communication systems |
|
How is the leave managed in the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award ?
In the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award , leave entitlements for employees are determined by the National Employment Standards (NES) and the classification of the employee.
Annual leave
Annual leave is provided for in the NES.
During annual leave, employees receive an additional payment called annual leave loading, calculated based on the wage rate in clause 15 and in addition to the NES payment.(b) The loading rates are as follows:
- For employees on day work: 17.5% of wage rate or the relevant weekend penalty rates, whichever is greater (but not both).
- For employees on shiftwork: 17.5% of wage rate or the shift loading (including relevant weekend penalty rates), whichever is greater (but not both).
Public holidays
Public holidays are provided for in the NES.
|
Payment for public holidays – other than veterinary surgeons |
|
|
Payment for public holidays – veterinary surgeons |
|
|
Special provisions for associates who normally work on weekends |
|
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